Train rail and train tracks

ABSTRACT

A train rail includes an upper rail head, a lower rail head, a web, and at least one piezoelectric plate. The lower rail head is substantially parallel to the upper rail head. The web perpendicularly connects the upper rail head to the lower rail head. The at least one piezoelectric plate is positioned in the train rail and configured for producing electric power under pressure.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a rail used for train tracks and train tracks having the same.

2. Description of Related Art

Train tracks usually consist of pairs of rails connected end to end. Many modern trains are powered by electricity supplied by overhead wires or additional rails and are guided by many electronic devices along the tracks, such as indicator lights all adding up to tremendous amount of electricity being used.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a train rail and train tracks having the same, which can overcome or at least alleviate the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a train track including two train rails, according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of one rail of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another rail, according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of yet another rail, according to a third exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a train track 100, according to a first exemplary embodiment, includes two train rails 10 and a number of ties 20. The two train rails 10 are laterally spaced apart one from the other by a distance sufficient to establish the desired gauge of the train track 100. The ties 20 are parallel to each other and arranged between the two train rails 10. Each tie 20 is perpendicular to the two train rails 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the train rails 10 are approximately I-shaped in cross-section. Each train rail 10 includes an upper rail head 12, a lower rail head 14, a web 16 connecting the upper rail head 12 to the lower rail head 16, a first piezoelectric plate 17, and a second piezoelectric plate 18.

The upper rail head 12 has an upper curved surface 120 to engage with the wheels of a train (not shown) and defines a first receiving groove 122. The first receiving groove 122 is arranged within the upper rail head 12 and the length direction of the first receiving groove 122 coincides with the length direction of the train rail 10. The first piezoelectric plate 17 is received in the first receiving groove 122. The depth of the first piezoelectric plate 17 is less than half of the depth of the upper rail head 12.

The lower rail head 14 is substantially parallel to the upper rail head 12. The lower rail head 14 defines a second receiving groove 142. The second receiving groove 142 is arranged within the upper rail head 12 and the length direction of the second receiving groove 142 coincides with the length direction of the train rail 10. The second piezoelectric plate 18 is received in the second receiving groove 142. The depth of the second piezoelectric plate 18 is less than half of the depth of the lower rail head 14.

Wires (not shown) connected to the first piezoelectric plate 17 and the second piezoelectric plate 18 extend through the train rails 10 to connect electronic devices or a storage battery on the train track 100. Each of the first piezoelectric plate 17 and the piezoelectric plate 18 is made of piezoelectric material, such as organic piezoelectric material, inorganic piezoelectric material, or compound piezoelectric material. In this embodiment, the organic piezoelectric material may be polyvinylidene fluoride. The inorganic piezoelectric material may be piezotransistor or piezoceramics. The piezotransistor includes quartz crystal, lithium gallium oxide, lithium germinate, lithium niobate and lithium tantalite. The piezoceramics includes barium titanate, barium zirconate titanate, modified barium zirconate titanate, and modified lead titanate. The compound piezoelectric material includes a polymer base, organic piezoelectric material and inorganic piezoelectric material. The organic piezoelectric material and the inorganic piezoelectric material are embedded in the polymer base.

Pressure on the train rails 10 from passing trains will be applied to the first piezoelectric plate 17 and the piezoelectric plate 18. Then, the two piezoelectric plates 17 and 18 transform the mechanical energy to electric energy. The two piezoelectric plates 17 and 18 will transmit the electric power to the electronic devices and/or the storage battery on the train track 100. Thus, the pressure of the trains can provide additional electric energy for charging the battery and/or powering the electronic devices on the train track 100, achieving good energy conservation.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, a train rail 30, according to a second exemplary embodiment, is shown. The differences between the train rail 30 of this embodiment and the train rail 10 of the first embodiment are: the first and second receiving grooves are omitted, and two piezoelectric plates 32 are arranged at opposite sides of the web 36 perpendicular to the upper and lower rail heads.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a train rail 40, according to a third exemplary embodiment, is shown. The differences between the train rail 40 of this embodiment and the train rail 10 of the first embodiment are: the first receiving groove is omitted, the second receiving groove 442 is exposed at the lower rail head 44, and the second piezoelectric plate 48 is received in the second receiving groove 442 and is exposed at the lower rail head 44.

The advantages of the second and third embodiments are similar to those of the first embodiment.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A train rail comprising: an upper rail head; a lower rail head substantially parallel to the upper rail head; a web perpendicularly connecting the upper rail head to the lower rail head; and at least one piezoelectric plate positioned in the train rail and configured for producing electric power under pressure.
 2. The train rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric plate comprises a first piezoelectric plate and a second piezoelectric plate, the first piezoelectric plate is arranged within the upper rail head, and the second piezoelectric plate is arranged within the lower rail head.
 3. The train rail as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper rail head defines a first receiving groove, the lower rail head defines a second receiving groove, the first piezoelectric plate is received in the first receiving groove, and the second piezoelectric plate is received in the second receiving groove.
 4. The train rail as claimed in claim 3, wherein the length direction of the first receiving groove coincides with the length direction of the train rail, and the length direction of the second receiving groove coincides with the length direction of the train rail.
 5. The train rail as claimed in claim 3, wherein the depth of the first piezoelectric plate is less than half of the depth of the upper rail head, and the depth of the second piezoelectric plate is less than half of the depth of the lower rail head.
 6. The train rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric plate comprises two piezoelectric plates arranged at opposite sides of the web, the piezoelectric plates being perpendicular to the upper rail head and the lower rail head.
 7. The train rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric plate comprises one piezoelectric plates arranged at the lower rail head and is exposed at the lower rail head.
 8. The train rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric plate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of organic piezoelectric material, inorganic piezoelectric material, and compound piezoelectric material.
 9. A train track comprising: two train rails parallel to each other and laterally spaced apart one from the other, each train rail comprising: an upper rail head; a lower rail head substantially parallel to the upper rail head; a web perpendicularly connecting the upper rail head to the lower rail head; and at least one piezoelectric plate positioned in the train rail and configured for producing electric power under pressure; and a plurality of ties parallel to each other and arranged between the two train rails, each tie being perpendicular to the two train rails.
 10. The train track as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one piezoelectric plate comprises a first piezoelectric plate and a second piezoelectric plate, the first piezoelectric plate is arranged within the upper rail head, and the second piezoelectric plate is arranged within the lower rail head.
 11. The train track as claimed in claim 10, wherein the upper rail head defines a first receiving groove, the lower rail head defines a second receiving groove, the first piezoelectric plate is received in the first receiving groove, and the second piezoelectric plate is received in the second receiving groove.
 12. The train track as claimed in claim 11, wherein the length direction of the first receiving groove coincides with the length direction of the train rail, and the length direction of the second receiving groove coincides with the length direction of the train rail.
 13. The train track as claimed in claim 11, wherein the depth of the first piezoelectric plate is less than half of the depth of the upper rail head, and the depth of the second piezoelectric plate is less than half of the depth of the lower rail head.
 14. The train track as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one piezoelectric plate comprises two piezoelectric plates arranged at opposite sides of the web, the piezoelectric plates being perpendicular to the upper rail head and the lower rail head.
 15. The train track as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one piezoelectric plate comprises one piezoelectric plates arranged at the lower rail head and is exposed at the lower rail head.
 16. The train track as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one piezoelectric plate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of organic piezoelectric material, inorganic piezoelectric material, and compound piezoelectric material. 